Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-03-08
J. ri. ,l ,ra9s V3dzg1tG.
TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH s.
EAnngerous Powers.

The Safe Arbitration law was imperu'
nent ana offensive as it stood before the
Legislature commenced amending 1t. II IL
i. changed after the fashion proposed by Its
friends at Albany it viii become an ins'ru.
ment of oppression almost without parsiis!
should its enforcement fell into the names OF
demapoeues or inscriptions persons. 1Ho
voluntary feature is still nomiualiy retained
Tha5 is EMPLOYERS and employed differing
ee to wages or hours and conditions OF Wofh
nav do as they please about euomiItiDe
their controversies to the arbitrators. IL IS
only when they have drawn up their case
pro and con, and invited the decision OF 'ne
Board. that they become bound 10 aolde ey
the verdict The dangerous powers whlch
the arbitrators now desire would Teacn out
IN another direction. They want 10 be
clothed with mediatorial attributes, so {nat
they may take initial steps un!nvited ior
the settlement o. such disputes. inns iooKs
innocent enough on the face. But under
its meek exterior turks the possibility OF IN
finite annoyance to the best interests OF BUS
ness.
Ore of the amendments proposed makes
it obligatory upon the Board 10 proceed at
once to the locality of any strike or lockout
and endeayor by mediation to adjust d'i'
farances amicabiy. BLESSED are the peece-
Makers but how if these nediato!s
shopld at the outset of their delicate
task be preudiced against the side OF
the EMPLOYERS? Such bias is not unlike
" to arise especially if the officials had po'
Iitical ambitions and were slyly schemlng
for the future support of y labor party" Ii
is then that they might, if they chose, in
hct the creates; inias,ice CT the employers
under The plausible pretense OF wishing TO
get at the truth for the benefit OF ali cen
cerned. They are empowered at tneiF
pleasure to"subppua witnesses, compel their
attendance, and send for persons aHd pa
pers" Under the bread license . M pro-
vision they could compel au ewployer 10
bring his books before them, explain the
mysteries of his business for the enlighteD-
ment of his rivals and fOr the information
of the strikers Every employer would re-
sent the demand of au outsider to inspect
his books as piece of the Grossest lmpu'
dence And yet here is a proposition TO
bare the secrets of his affairs to the gaze OF
his own hands and Of competitors in his
line of business Such Ri aquisinon would
be intolerable. Applied with the utmost
discretion and tenderness It would he DAG
enough; but far worse in the hands OF men
who secretly fraternized with the trade
unions for political purposes
Such msnamed mediation would tee dl-
rectly productive Of dissatisfaction araong
the employed, and give rise 10 far more
strikes than now occur The moment that
the bands had reason to suppose that their
employer could afford to increase their
wages they would strike and trust the medi
ators % compel him to show his books.
This mandate, if Issued, would be in me ma,
inre of penalty, to avoid which he might
prefer to yield to an unjust demand for more
wages If be were making money be would
not like the world to know all about it.
And If he were losing money in his business
he might be equally anxious TO screen that
unpleasant fact from the public eye In
either case lie would be subjected to a .spe'
cies Of coercion which would inure solely TO
the benefit of the strikers. They, on thcls
part. have 30 papers to produce, no bust
ness secrets the disclosure OF. which would
be injurious to themselves Il is perfectly
evident. therefore, that this pretended iea-
ture of mediation is more Objectionable than
an arbitration to which both parties are con
senting. Il is nothing less than compusion
of the most odious, because most deceptive
variety.-N. Y Journal Of Commerce.